Wasted Talent hires Phil Alexander to oversee development of Kerrang!

The new owner of Kerrang! has hired Phil Alexander to oversee the development of the rock media brand. Alexander has had a long career in the UK music press, most recently in a role that saw him oversee all three of Bauer Media’s music magazines, which included Kerrang!

As previously reported, the publisher of dance title Mixmag bought Kerrang! back in April, hoping to employ the same tactics it has used to grow the business side of the former to restore the fortunes of the latter. Both music magazines were previously owned by Bauer (or, technically in Mixmag’s case, its forerunner in the UK, EMAP).

Alexander will join the senior management team at what is now known as Wasted Talent in September as Global Creative Director of Kerrang! and Rock Music Media. He will be responsible for the print, digital and events side of the Kerrang! business as well as contributing to the wider development of the Wasted Talent company.

Confirming the hire, Wasted Talent CEO Jerry Perkins said: “Phil manages to combine two things that are rare: the passion of a fan with a sense of where things are heading next. Added to that is his ability to build extraordinary teams and to understand the needs of the audience. He also has the respect of musicians themselves as well as that of the wider the music industry. Then, there’s his understated business acumen”.

Perkins concluded: “He is the perfect person to contribute to Wasted Talent’s expansion, and to oversee Kerrang!’s global development in particular”.

Alexander himself said: “I am honoured to have worked as part of the remarkable editorial teams at Bauer Media and, before that, at EMAP. During my time there I have been allowed the freedom to develop new ideas, and I have enjoyed a set of unique, life-changing experiences for which I will always be grateful. Working with Jerry and the Wasted Talent gang is a fantastic challenge that I am tremendously excited about as we embark on a series of new adventures”.